American Reel is a 1999 drama film directed by Mark Archer and starring David Carradine, Michael Maloney, and Mariel Hemingway. Written by Junior Burke and Scott Fivelson, the film is set in Chicago, Illinois, though primary filming locations included Fort Wayne, Indiana, Waterloo, Indiana, and Hicksville, Ohio.

American Reel
Directed byMark Archer
Written byJunior Burke
Scott Fivelson
Produced byMark Archer
Scott Fivelson
Darrell Griffin
Jordan Rush
StarringDavid Carradine
Michael Maloney
Mariel Hemingway
CinematographyTony Hettinger
Edited byGeorge Kelly Jr.
Music byThom Bishop
Distributed byLiberation Entertainment
Release date
1999
  • November 4, 2003 (2003-11-04) (DVD)
Running time
100 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film, which features Carradine singing five of his original songs, has been heralded as a "tailor-made" showcase of the late actor's little-known musical work.[1]

Synopsis

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Country singer James Lee Springer (Carradine) has just become an overnight sensation—after 20 years of trying to make it by playing every honky-tonk west (and east) of the Big Muddy. But after so many years of waiting and hoping, the only question is whether it's all worth it.[2]

Cast

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The DVD of the film was released in 2003 and contains interviews with the cast, and a behind the scenes gallery of photos.[3] In 2012, the film was re-released and made available on streaming services such as Netflix[4] and Amazon Prime Video.

Reprises

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Though the film was initially released with little publicity, it has become appreciated by Carradine's more loyal fans, and has been screened multiple times since the actor's passing.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Annual David Carradine Birthday Tribute w/Cosmic Rescue Team Live This Thurs. 12/8/11!!!". 7 December 2011.
  2. ^ "American Reel". Netflix.
  3. ^ "American Reel". IMDb.
  4. ^ "American Reel". Netflix.
  5. ^ "Annual David Carradine Birthday Tribute w/Cosmic Rescue Team Live This Thurs. 12/8/11!!!". 7 December 2011.
  6. ^ "Annual David Carradine Birthday Tribute w/Cosmic Rescue Team Live This Thurs. 12/8/11!!!". 7 December 2011.
  7. ^ "American Reel (2003) - IMDb". IMDb.
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